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First Look: Cliff Hangers

Touchstone Climbing, the company behind rock-climbing gyms in the Mission, Berkeley, and Oakland, takes off the training harness this month with its latest outpost: Dogpatch Boulders.

The "cliffs" are more like abstract art.

Dogpatch Boulders is the largest bouldering gym in the country. The tricked-out warehouse is devoted exclusively to rope-free climbing, offering 14,000 square feet of craggy terrain. The 12- to 17-foot tall "cliffs," more akin to abstract sculptures than typical ruddy faux rock walls, are splashed with bright textured coatings in angular patterns. Routes are graded from beginner (V0) to dangling-by-your-fingertips challenging (V13), and 20 route-setters create new climbs every other day. A monthly ($71) or annual ($781) membership grants access to all eight of Touchstone's California gyms, while a day pass goes for $20.